The Vancouver Christmas Market opens today at Jack Poole Plaza

The city’s signature yuletide celebration returns to its expansive seaside home, November 22–December 24, 2017 at Jack Poole Plaza (at the Olympic Cauldron) offering its largest, authentic German festivities to date. The cherished holiday tradition will feature more than 75 huts stuffed with sweets, treats and treasures, coupled with a multitude of festive family activities and live entertainment. Attracting a record number of more than 215,000 visitors last season, the Vancouver Christmas Market remains one of the city’s beloved holiday experiences.
“We are delighted to return to Jack Poole Plaza again this season, warmly welcoming new and returning visitors to partake in our wide array of Christmas festivities, while discovering a number of exciting new activities and expanded highlights,” said Malte Kluetz, Founder and President of the Vancouver Christmas Market. “As we move into our 8th season, and continue to grow in popularity, we are also pleased to unveil our revitalized logo and updated website, developed to help guests easily plan their visit. Whether shopping the market for that special, one-of-kind gift or indulging in the mouth-watering array of German delicacies, we look forward to seeing new and familiar faces during the most wonderful time of the year!”

Among this year’s expanded highlights will be Canada’s first-ever Walk-In Christmas Tree: a 30ft tall tree covered with 36,000 twinkling lights that guests can enter to experience a spectacular – and selfie-worthy light display. The Christmas Pyramid also returns, this year taller than ever with the addition of a brand new ‘Flying Stage’ perched 10ft high above the market. The Flying Stage will host a lively line-up of festive entertainment daily. The entertainment line-up is stacked with a wide range of musical talent performing a steady stream of seasonal favourites that span every genre – from jazz, blues, folk, pop, classical, and gospel.

Visitors will undoubtedly treat themselves to the market’s signature array of mouth-watering delectables, including Glühwein (a hot-spiced mulled wine), Bratwurst, Gulasch, Spätzle, Schnitzel, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes), Strudels, and so much more. A variety of new local vendors will be offering the best food and drink BC has to offer including fresh sustainable seafood from Eat F.I.S.H., made-from-scratch Sicilian cannoli by the Cannoli King, award-winning German style wine from Wild Goose Winery, and organic beer made from local ingredients by Persephone Brewing Co.

In addition to Deutschland delicacies, rousing entertainment, and returning favourites – such as the Christmas Carousel and the warming Alpine Haus tent, designed to accommodate more than 250 people, visitors can wander throughout the market’s quaint pathways of huts, discovering lovingly crafted gifts and treasures that cry out to be slipped into stockings and placed under Christmas trees.